FIREARM TRACKING SYSTEM BEGINS TO YIELD RESULTS
Minister condemns loss of firearms, applauds recovery of some
PRETORIA - 01 June 2010. The Minister of Police, Nathi Mthethwa today expressed his unhappiness with the unacceptably high number of firearms that are lost in the hands of police officers.
The Minister's remarks come amid recent disturbing reports of loss of firearms at the Inanda Police Station in KwaZulu-Natal last week. The following provinces; KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga have experienced unacceptably higher percentages. He has accordingly called for tightened measures to ensuring greater accountability and responsibility over firearms in the hands of our police officers.
When this problem was detected in early February this year, the South African Police Service (SAPS) immediately introduced an Integrated Ballistics Identification System (IBIS) system. The implications of the IBIS approach are that officers need to account for each and every firearm allocated to them. If it goes missing, whether through negligence or ulterior motives, each officer will be held accountable.
"As reported in February this year two hundred and seventy five (275) firearms have been recovered for the 2009/2010 financial year. Comparatively a total of two hundred and ninety (290) firearms have been recovered during the 2008/2009 financial year," stated Minister Mthethwa.